Temporary role could last longer than desired

Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 11:09 PM.

PANAMA CITY— Bay County has been approved to take over the area’s public paratransit system — but it may have the job longer than it wants.

The Bay County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) voted unanimously Wednesday to temporarily handoff management of the system, Bay Area Transportation, to the county for six months. The blue and white vans and buses run no fixed route and primarily ferry the elderly to medical appointments.

The county will hold the title of community transportation coordinator (CTC). The takeover was critical because it prevented a $300,000-800,000 loss in local public transit funding.

But the move doesn’t jibe with the County Commission’s action on Tuesday. The county board agreed only to run the paratransit service for a month. At the TPO meeting, though, County Manager Ed Smith said six months was acceptable. He indicated the county is considering running the service long-term, but must see how the trial period goes.

“We’re going to have a sample size, if we take that 90 days, from Jan. 1 to March, and we’ll know by then whether we have an interest in this or not. An extra 90 days won’t matter to us from a technical standpoint,” Smith told the TPO board.

Smith said the County Commission could adjust the timeline for running the service at its next meeting, which is Nov. 19.

The new role was foisted on the county after the current nonprofit firm running the system, Tri-County Community Council, of Bonifay, announced it was quitting at the end of the year. The county will take over the service at the start of 2014.

PANAMA CITY— Bay County has been approved to take over the area’s public paratransit system — but it may have the job longer than it wants.

The Bay County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) voted unanimously Wednesday to temporarily handoff management of the system, Bay Area Transportation, to the county for six months. The blue and white vans and buses run no fixed route and primarily ferry the elderly to medical appointments.

The county will hold the title of community transportation coordinator (CTC). The takeover was critical because it prevented a $300,000-800,000 loss in local public transit funding.

But the move doesn’t jibe with the County Commission’s action on Tuesday. The county board agreed only to run the paratransit service for a month. At the TPO meeting, though, County Manager Ed Smith said six months was acceptable. He indicated the county is considering running the service long-term, but must see how the trial period goes.

“We’re going to have a sample size, if we take that 90 days, from Jan. 1 to March, and we’ll know by then whether we have an interest in this or not. An extra 90 days won’t matter to us from a technical standpoint,” Smith told the TPO board.

Smith said the County Commission could adjust the timeline for running the service at its next meeting, which is Nov. 19.

The new role was foisted on the county after the current nonprofit firm running the system, Tri-County Community Council, of Bonifay, announced it was quitting at the end of the year. The county will take over the service at the start of 2014.

It wouldn’t be unusual for the county to permanently assume the role; 20 other county commissions across Florida serve as the CTC, said Steve Holmes, a state transportation official.

Now, Bay County must find a paratransit system operator, to oversee the day-to-day running of the service. That could be difficult. The company running the local trolley system, which has been thought to be a likely candidate for the job, won’t bid on the work.

Greg Meeks, a co-owner for Santa Ynez Valley Transportation Services, said he’s not interested in the job because the document soliciting bids does not provide adequate details.

“It has a lot of incomplete of information,” he said in an interview.

Meeks, touting 25 years of public transit experience, said it will be vital to keep current staff on for the transition, but that what happens to existing staff is not addressed in the solicitation for bids.

“If you cared about the system and knew about paratransit … that would be your No. 1 concern, except for money,” Meeks said.

There also isn’t enough information on funding, Meeks said, worrying his company would be left “holding the bag” if it got the job.

“We know how many people they transport, and you can’t do it on the funds that they have listed in the (request for qualifications),” he said.

The county needs to hire an operator quickly, too. It should have one in place operator no later than 30 days prior to the county taking over the service, Meeks said.

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